Public Sector: The Public Sector week

The Home Office is the government department to feature most frequently
in Twitter conversations, according to a Politics Online 2009 report by
Social Media Affairs, a directory of influential political bloggers. The
civil service and MI5 are next on the list. The top council to be
mentioned is Brighton and Hove City Council, followed by Telford and
Wrekin and City of London.

The Forster Company has topped The Sunday Times Green List, published
last Sunday. The list revealed the 60 UK companies with the most
radically improved environmental performances. Among its activities,
Forster undertakes an annual ethical impact review, and prefers to use
local suppliers.

The Home Office has appointed Jean Ward to be head of comms for its
crime reduction group. Ward was formerly deputy director at Government
Communication Network (GCN). Ward replaces Emma Stranack, who has gone
to the Department for Transport. Before working at GCN in 2007, Ward was
head of news at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has
appointed Glasgow-based Cowbrough Communications to handle a
pan-European tender to supply a range of communications support for its
local economic and employment development programme. The Paris- based
OECD brings together the governments of 30 member countries and provides
a platform for comparing policy experiences, identifying good practice
and co-ordinating international economic policy.

Band & Brown Communications has promoted Simon Francis to the role of
head of public sector practice, reporting to managing director Graz
Belli. Francis will continue to expand Band & Brown's public and
voluntary sector client base. In recent months, Band & Brown has won
work from the Department for Work & Pensions.